Imagine a little cabin in the woods, loads of animal books on the shelf, each packed with pictures, information, or stories. Each Blog post is a little book for you to read and enjoy. So pull one off the shelf today and read about Exotic Pets, and Unusual, or Rare, Animals!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

There are
hundreds of dog breeds and new ones are accepted by the registries
almost every year. In some areas small breeds are popular as house
pets or as “accessories”, while other area it is the larger dogs
that are preferred, sometimes as status symbols, for work purposes
(hunting, herding), or just because some people consider small dogs
to be silly.

Each dog breed
is unique in appearance, and temperament. When selecting a dog most
people focus on looks, but it is the temperament, maintenance, along
with common health problems, that should be considered first.

The Labrador
Retriever

These dogs are
very popular, and come in three colors, black, yellow, and chocolate.
They are a fairly large dog originally breed to retrieve ducks or
fishing nets. As such they are patient and gentle but do need
regular exercise. Labrador retrievers have short coats but do shed a
lot, particularly when on a poor quality diet or not exercised enough
(stress).

The Golden
Retriever

Golden
retrievers are one of the most popular pet dogs in many parts of the
world, they are gentle, patient, and have beautiful semi-long coats.
Golden retrievers love to retrieve things so much they often will
carry toys around in their mouth. Although they still need proper
exercise, and regular grooming, they tend to be slightly less active
than the Labrador retriever.

Poodles

Poodles have
been very popular for years, and have some similarities in
temperament as the retrievers, however they are often somewhat more
intelligent, demanding more mental stimulation. Poodles come in
three sizes, toy, miniature, and standard. They require regular
grooming or suffer from painful tangles that require a shave to
remove.

Pit Bull
Terriers

There is
actually no such breed as a pit bull terrier, this is a term used
loosely to describe any dog of a certain appearance. There are many
breeds that are considered to be pit bull terriers according to the
country they reside, two of the most common are the Staffordshire
Bull Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier. These breeds
originated as hunting dogs, often used in pits for sport, to kill
bulls, bears, or each other. As such they are very strong, but with
correct handling and training they can make good pets.

While the majority of the focus on the Animal Cabin is related to exotic pets, it is also important to share information on the more common types of pets, cats, dogs, fish, and so forth. As such this page is designed to offer some information on some of the most common cat breeds, with links so people can get further information if they so desire.

For certain the most common pet cats are not a breed at all, but are simply domestic cats of mixed breeds, however this article will mention two of the most common cat breeds, the Siamese and Persian, as well as the unique Manx cat.

Siamese Cats

Siamese cats are often easily recognized by their color, known as color point, however not all cats of this color are purebred Siamese, and without registration papers they cannot be referred to as such. In the Siamese cat the kittens are born white or cream color, in a few weeks the cooler areas, their limbs, tail, ears, and face, get color, while their warmer body stays light.

There are two breeding lines of Siamese cats, the traditionalists prefer a normal cat shaped face, while some extreme breeders prefer a more exotic, distorted face, that many people assume is the way these cats originally looked (although not true).

Persian Cats

Many people wrongly assume all long haired cats are Persian cats. A Persian cat is a breed that is noted for very long hair, lazy personality, and often associated with having a pushed in face. This facial deformity is the result of recent selective breeding and is not an original trait of the breed.

Persians require regular grooming and may suffer from painful hair tangles if ignored. They are often kept indoors only as their fur gets more messy when they are outside.

Manx Cats

Not all tailless cats are Manx, and not all Manx cats are tailless. Good Manx cat breeders will not breed a tailless Manx to a tailless Manx as their are concerns about a fatal double gene when this occurs.

Because of the genetic spinal deformity that causes Manx cats to have no tail, or to have a short tail, they tend to be prone to some health concerns and are not always reliable when it comes to using their litter box because of this.

Note that there are millions of cats up for adoption in shelters all over the world, in the USA it is reported by the Humane Society that more than 3 million do not find homes. If you are considering getting a pet cat be sure to check your local shelter or go online to petfinder.com. Note that shelter websites are not always up-to-date, and that shelters do sometimes get specific cat breeds for adoption.

It has been a busy spring which has left me little time for blogging. We had 18 lambs and a couple need bottle feeding so that is time consuming. Rather than writing a full article about one specific pet, I am just going to provide you with some short information on several exotic pets with links to further reading on each.

Rabbits

Rabbits are very popular as pets, there are many breeds of rabbits, some of which require more care in regards to their fur. Rabbits are often kept as outdoor pets however if their rump becomes dirty they are at risk from fly strike, a condition in which flies lay eggs on the rabbit's rump and the maggots can kill the rabbit. Rabbits should have at least 2 hours out of their cage every day.

Ferrets

Ferrets are possibly more work that rabbits in that they are very intelligent, curious, and playful. A ferret should be out of its cage for at least 4 hours a day. Ferrets are carnivores and will try to kill other small house pets, such as rabbits, birds, or even kittens.

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are nocturnal pets so may not be suited for everyone, as they can make a lot of noise at night. Hedgehogs should be taken out for at least 2 hours every evening, usually starting around 8:00 pm. Care should be taken when buying a hedgehog food as many low quality hedgehog foods do not meet their needs for meat.

Skunks

Skunks are not a common exotic pet but they are certainly one of the most unique. Skunks are carnivores and are nocturnal so they are not a suitable pet for everyone. In some areas descenting skunks is illegal even though they may legally be kept as pets. Once they are tame they are not likely to spray.

Insects

For some people furry pets are no good, they cause allergies and are more demanding than a smaller pet such as an insect. There are many types of insects that can be kept as pets, however in most areas it is illegal to catch and keep wild insects for more than 24 hours, however the pet trade does sell some insects as pets, such as mantis, beetles, and walking stick insects.

Toucans

Toucans are considered to be soft billed birds, this is not in reference to the bill, but rather to what these birds eat, they eat soft foods, not things like nuts. Their mouth is not as strong as a parrot's. As such they are a more gentle pet. Similar, but smaller, are Toucanets.

Buying Exotic Pets

Remember exotic pets are not for everyone, be sure to buy from a reputable breeder and do your research first to make sure you pick the right kind of exotic pet for your lifestyle. Never buy a pet that you cannot provide lifetime care for.

About Me

Pet Enthusiast, animal lover. Environmentally concerned, activist. Currently living on a hobby farm where I keep sheep, as pets. Trying to eat less meat in general and encouraging others to be good pet owners.

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Just a Reminder from The Cabin

When considering getting a new pet, always check your local Animal Shelter, or Pet Rescue Center, first. Not only are you saving a life, but you are typically getting a better priced pet, and are not contributing to the cruel mass breeding of pets (as when you purchase from a store).